WITH ten teams now in the Elite League and in particular three based in Scotland, pressure is on the clubs to find the best player talent pool possible.

“The expansion of the league creates an opportunity for local talent to aspire to play in the highest level of the sport in the UK,” said league chairman Eamon Convery.

“It may however take a little time to rebuild the number of top-class local players available of taking up the demanding role of being a full-time professional ice hockey player,”

Moving from eight teams to ten teams in one season, and in particular the fact the Breahed Clan is a completely new club, means there currently is a void in the pool of local players available to fulfil the demands required by a professional club.

While coaches scour the country in search of local talent, in order to assist with providing top-quality ice hockey at all clubs, the league has decided for the 2010/11 season to increase the number of players available to clubs that have International Transfer Cards.

Breahead Clan, Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals, Hull Stingrays and Newcastle Vipers will be able to ice up to 12 International Transfer Card players at any time. The remaining clubs, including Coventry Blaze, will be able to ice up to 11 at any time.